Situated on the shores of the St. Lawrence Gulf, the largest estuary in the world, the provinces of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia have forests, lakes, beaches, and history.
Prince Edward Island – The Cradle of the Confederacy and Anne of Green Gables
The island is the province with the smallest population and area in Canada, making it a very interesting attraction as it is the only one you can cross in a short time.
In September 1864, PEI hosted the Charlottetown Conference, which was the first meeting in the process that led to the Quebec Resolutions and the creation of Canada in 1867, although it refused to join the new country, remaining a colony of the United Kingdom until 1873 when it finally joined us.
The building where the conference was held is closed for conservation, but anyone interested in learning about it can visit the Confederation Center of the Arts, where there is a replica exhibition by the Chamber of Confederations.
The capital Charlottetown, founded in 1764, is a vibrant city with its historic charm, festivals, craft shops, and restaurants. You can walk the streets, along the boardwalk, or even take a boat to get a different view.
The Confederation Bridge, opened in 1997, 12.9 km long over the Northumberland Strait, connects PEI with the mainland in New Brunswick. The so-called “Fixed Connection” is one of the landmarks celebrated by the island being known as the “cradle of the Confederacy”.
You can’t talk about PEI, and not mention Anne of Green Gables, a book by Lucy Maud Montgomery, published in 1908. Anne is one of Canada’s best-known characters and made into both a movie, TV show and even a musical. The house featured in Lucy Maud Montgomery’s books is in Cavendish, on the north coast of the province, and can be visited.
Prince Edward Island is a province on a small island, but it offers parks, beaches, golf courses, and is a popular destination for weddings!
Learn more at tourismpei.com
New Brunswick – Tides, Rocks, and Acadians
About two-thirds of the population of New Brunswick declare themselves as English-speaking and one third declare themselves to be French.
These lands were among the first in North America to be exploited and colonized by Europeans, beginning with the French in the early 1600s, which explains the French influence.
We would need more space to talk about the cities of Moncton, the capital Fredericton, and the port city of Saint John.
One of New Brunswick’s most popular attractions is Fundy National Park, home to the famous Hopewell Rocks. These are rock formations caused by tidal erosion. In fact, the base of these formations is covered with water twice a day, so that you can see the ground level formations at low tide.
If you’re more adventurous, you can bike the Fundy Trail, rappel off the cliffs at Cape Enrage, camp, or even take a whale-watching boat trip.
For those who prefer something quieter, the province has Canada’s warmest beaches, with temperatures reaching around 29 C, which is warmer than an Olympic-size swimming pool.
In the early 1700s, French settlements formed a part of Acadia, a colonial division of New France. Acadia has covered the areas of what are today the maritime provinces and parts of Quebec, and the US state of Maine. In southeast NB lies the legendary Republic of Madawaska.
A stroll along the scenic routes of New Brunswick’s Acadian coast will take you to vibrant communities and a rich cultural scene. Museums, historic sites, and villages bring to life the remarkable 400-year history of the Acadians, while restaurants and galleries offer a modern connection to the past.
Learn more at tourismnewbrunswick.ca
Nova Scotia – Fossils and UNESCO
We already talked about the capital Halifax in the 20th edition and the Canadian Immigration Museum at Pier 21, also in the capital, in this edition. Let’s take a walk around other areas of the province in this column.
Nova Scotia has attractions such as lighthouses, beaches, national parks, vineyards, golf courses, famous lobsters, and lots of history.
Other than that, the province has five UNESCO-designated sites, including the paleontologist site Joggins Fossil Cliffs, described as the “Coal Age Galapagos” due to its fossil wealth from the coal period (354 to 290 million years ago). You can stroll along the beach to get an idea of life on earth 300 million years ago. With over 15kms of coastal cliffs, you can explore the fossil record of “coal age” life.
There are only two urban centers in North America on the UNESCO list: Quebec City, Quebec, and Old Town Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, considered to be the best surviving planned British colonial city on the continent. A stroll along with a small town full of history with shops, artisans, and restaurants is unforgettable.
Learn more at Novascotia.com
